Method and device for controlling mbms receiving in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of receiving a multimedia broadcast/multicast service in a user equipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission and a method of assisting the user equipment to receive the service in the corresponding base station; wherein the user equipment receives a transport block from the base station in a predefined period; and then judges whether a notification indicator in the transport block is activated, if so, then judges whether a service identification of a multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is included in a transport block including a control signaling in the transport block, if so, then receives the multimedia broadcast/multicast service. By implementing the present invention, a user terminal in IDLE mode only needs a predefined period such as a DRX period to wake up to receive the notification indicator to judge whether a new service will start without waking up at extra time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system,especially to the wireless communication system based on MBSFN(Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network) transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) is a service introduced in3GPP Release 6. MBMS is a technique of transmitting data from a datasource to a plurality of user equipments via sharing network resource,which can use the network resource effectively and implement thebroadcast and multicast of the multimedia service with relative highspeed while providing the multimedia service.

In 3GPP Release 6, before starting to send a new service, a base stationsends notification indicators via a MICH channel (MBMS IndicatorChannel), to inform a plurality of relevant user terminals that a newservice starts currently. After notification indicators is detected by auser terminal in IDLE mode, the user terminal in IDLE mode starts toreceive and decode the MCCH message to judge whether the current newservice is the service customized by itself. If the current new serviceis the service customized by the user terminal, then the user terminalstarts to receive data of the new service on the correspondingtime-frequency resource. If the current new service is not the servicecustomized by the user terminal, then the user terminal continues todetect notification indicators in the MICH channel and receive the MCCHmessage based on the notification indicators, to judge whether theupcoming new service is the service customized by it.

Although MBMS has made complete implementation in 3G systems of Release7 and Release 6 after long-term research and development, it still cannot meet the increasing service demand, especially the strong demand formobile TV service from users and operators. With starting to make theRelease 8, on one hand for further improving MBMS service performance,on the other hand for adapting new SAE/LTE (System ArchitectureEvolution/Long Term Evolution) system, MBMS performs dramaticimprovement in the aspect of logic architecture, service mode,transmission style and channel structure, etc.

Based on this, it is quite necessary to provide a new notificationmechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For aforesaid problems in the prior art, there is provided a method anddevice receiving a MBMS in a user equipment of a wireless communicationsystem based on MBSFN transmission, and accordingly a method and devicefor assisting a user equipment to receive a MBMS in a base station of awireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of receiving a MBMS in a user equipment of a wirelesscommunication system based on MBSFN transmission, wherein the methodcomprises the following steps of: a. receiving a transport block from abase station in a predefined period; b. judging whether a notificationindicator in the transport block is activated; c. judging whether aservice identification of a MBMS customized by the user equipment isincluded in a transport block including a control signaling in thetransport block, if the notification indicator is activated; d.receiving the MBMS, if the service identification of the MBMS customizedby the user equipment is included in the transport block including thecontrol signaling.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of assisting a user equipment to receive a MBMS in abase station of a wireless communication system based on MBSFNtransmission, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: A.activating a notification indicator in a transport block that is sent atstarting time of a predefined period, before starting to transmit a newMBMS; B. sending the transport block.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a control device for controlling to receive a MBMS in a userequipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFNtransmission, wherein the control device comprises: a first receivingmeans, for receiving a transport block from a base station in apredefined period; a first judging means, for judging whether anotification indicator in the transport block is activated; a secondjudging means, for judging whether a service identification of a MBMScustomized by the user equipment is included in a transport blockincluding a control signaling in the transport block, if thenotification indicator is activated; a second receiving means, forreceiving the MBMS, if the service identification of the MBMS customizedby the user equipment is included in the transport block including thecontrol signaling.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an assisting control device for assisting a user equipment tocontrol to receive a multimedia broadcast/multicast service in a basestation of a wireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission,wherein the assisting control device comprises: an activating means, foractivating a notification indicator in a transport block that is sent atstarting time of a predefined period, before starting to transmit a newmultimedia broadcast/multicast service; a sending means, for sending thetransport block.

In the technical solution of the present invention, before a new servicestarts, the base station will activate the notification indicator onlyin a predefined period, for example a DRX period. Therefore, a userequipment in IDLE mode only needs to wake up in a predefined period, forexample a DRX period, to receive the notification indicator to judgewhether a new service starts, if so, the user equipment further judgeswhether the new service is the service customized by it according to thesimultaneously received MCCH control signaling. Usually, a DRX(Discontinuous Reception) period is multiple of MP (ModificationPeriod).

For user equipment which has started to receive service data, it shouldtake MP as the receiving period to receive the MCCH control signaling tojudge whether the MCCH control signaling is updated. Therefore, for suchuser equipment, it also will not miss the receiving of the notificationindicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By reading the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments withreference to the following drawings, other objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will become apparent.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a method according to the third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method according to the fourth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a MAC-PDU accordingto the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a method of receiving a MBMS in a user equipment of awireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a method of receiving a MBMS in a user equipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission, according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

In drawings, same or similar reference signs refer to the same orsimilar step feature/device (module).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

When MBMS data, for example, data transmitted on a MTCH (MulticastTraffic Channel) is transmitted in the form of MBSFN, and the MTCH ismapped on a MCH (Multicast Channel), MCH is mapped on a PMCH (PhysicalMulticast Channel).

MTCH service data is transmitted in the form of MBSFN, which means thatthe RS (Reference Signal) and scramble are the same in the MBSFN fieldand signals, which are from different base stations and transmitted inthe form of MBSFN, superimpose naturally in the air, since the RS andscramble are the same in the whole MBSFN field, a UE (User Equipment)performs a combined MBSFN channel estimation by using the uniform RS,that is, the UE directly demodulates and decodes the combined signalwithout distinguishing from which base station is the combined signal onearth.

When the MCCH and MTCH are both mapped on the MCH, which means that theMCCH and MTCH can only be carried on a MBSFN sub-frame. If there is notonly MCCH transmission but also MTCH transmission in a MBSFN sub-frame,when the MTCH uses the MBSFN transmission mode, it means that the MCCHalso needs to use the MBSFN transmission mode. Otherwise, if the MCCHuses non-MBSFN transmission mode, the transmission of MTCH data, whichis in the same MBSFN sub-frame and transmitted in the MBSFN transmissionmode, will be influenced, for example, it is unable to allocate the sameresource for the MTCH data, belonging to the same MBSFN sub-frame as theMCCH control signaling, in different eNBs. Furthermore, as discussedhereinbefore, the UE detects the received signals by using the combinedMBSFN, therefore, if different eNBs do not use MBSFN transmission modeto transmit data in the MCH, the UE can not demodulate and decode thereceived data correctly.

Hereinafter, implementations of transmitting the MCCH control signalingin the MBSFN transmission mode are described in each detailedembodiment.

A First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of transmission mode of a MCCH controlsignaling, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A MBSFN sub-frame is 1 ms, that is, a TTI (Transmission Time Interval).12 symbols such as 12 OFDM symbols are included in a sub-frame.

Wherein the prior 2 symbols in a MBSFN sub-frame cannot be used forMBSFN transmission, hut needs to be reserved to transmit PHICH (PhysicalHARQ Indication Channel), CRS (Common Reference Signal), etc, so thatthe unicast user performs switching among cells, load balancing or themeasurement of interference coordination, therefore, the prior 2 symbolsof a MBSFN sub-frame may be taken as PDCCH (Physical Downlink ControlChannel) symbol.

Hereinafter, the method flow of the first detailed embodiment isdescribed as follows in combination with FIG. 2 and referring to FIG. 1.As shown in FIG. 2, in the step S10, a base station generates a first TB(Transmission Block) according to a MCCH control signaling, that is,MCCH control signaling TB, and generates a second TB according to MTCHservice data, that is, MTCH service data TB. Therefore, as shown in FIG.1, MCCH control signaling and MTCH service data are multiplexed in asame sub-frame in the form of two TBs. Those skilled in the arts shouldunderstand that the two rectangles of the first TB and the second TBshown in FIG. 1 are only examples, the first TB may be mapped on one ormore RBs (Resource Block) which may be discrete; the second TB may bemapped on one or more RBs which may be discrete. Therefore, actually,the patterns mapped in the MBSFN sub-frame by RBs may be irregular.

After then, in the step S11, the base station generates MCCH-relatedindication information in the sub-frame. The MCCH-related indicationinformation comprises for example DCI (Downlink Control Indication) andMBMS-RNTI (MBMS-Radio Network Temporary Identifier). The DCI andMBMS-RNTI information may be in the PDCCH symbol.

Wherein DCI format 4 is defined, and comprises the followinginformation:

-   -   information of RBs occupied by MCCH, that is, position        information of MCCH signaling;    -   MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) of MCCH;    -   in another embodiment, DCI format 4 may also comprise        notification indicator of new service, hereinafter to be        referred as “notification indicator”.

The new defined DCI format 4 considers the necessary indicationinformation for dynamically scheduling the MCCH control signaling, thusneglects some other parameters defined in other DCI formats. Certainly,the defined DCI format 1,2, etc versions may also he reused.

Noticeably, the base station may accurately determine the RBs occupiedby MCCH according to the actual data amount of MCCH to implement dynamicscheduling for MCCH TBs; and the base station may dynamically determineMCS of MCCH according to MCCH required QoS information, etc.

MCCH-related indication information also comprises MBMS-RNTI. In orderto provide reliable transmission, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) may beperformed for DCI. When the base station performs CRC operation for DCI,RNSI is added in CRC for mask. RNTI comprises paging-RNTI, MBMS-RNTI,S-RNTI, user specific RNTI, etc, each RNTI has a definite value, whichis specified in the relevant protocol and not be repeated here again.The base station knows what the data to be scheduled by it is, thus itwill add the corresponding RNTI during CRC according to the actual datato be scheduled.

Then, in the step S12, the base station transmits the two TBs to thephysical layer via the transmission channel MCH, and sends them to oneor more UEs dominated by the base station.

Considering the reliability of transmission, power saving mode of UE andprevention of missing the receiving of MCCH control signaling, the basestation needs to use a period transmission mechanism of MP (ModificationPeriod) and RP (Repetition Period). A MP equals to a scheduling period,and a MP equals to a plurality of RPs. For example, four or eight RPsare included in a MP. Ideally, the base station sends the MCCH messagein the first MBSFN sub-frame from the start of each MP or RP and doesnot send the MCCH signaling in other MBSFN sub-frames. Certainly, sincethe distribution of the MBSFN in a scheduling period is discrete, forexample, the sub-frame corresponding to the first period of MP may notperform MBSFN transmission, and it is specified that the MCCH controlsignaling must be transmitted in the form of MBSFN, it is possible forsuch a scenario that RB starts from the 40^(th) sub-frame and MCCH maybe sent in the 39^(th) or 41^(st) sub-frame (closed occasion), whereinthe 39^(th) or 41^(st) sub-frame is the MBSFN sub-frame. That is, theMCCH control signaling is sent to the UE only in the MBSFN sub-framenearest to the start of MP and RP (Repetition Period). Certainly, forhow to define the nearest MBSFN sub-frame, selecting the prior or latterMBSFN sub-frame nearest to the start of MP/RP to transmit the MCCHcontrol signaling message is agreed by system, and the way of selectingfor each base station should keep consistent with each other. The MCCHmessage sent in each RP by the base station is the same, till MCCHmessage is updated, the MCCH message is updated in the MBSFN sub-framenearest to the start of the MP, then, the updated MCCH message is sentperiodically and repeatedly in the latter RP.

The base station may expand the system message to add the options ofconfiguration of MP and RP, and presends to the UE the system messageincluding MP and RP.

Then, in the step S13, the UE firstly receives from the base station theMBSFN sub-frame including MCCH control signaling in the period scheduledby MP and RP.

Then, in the step S14, the UE firstly reads the PDCCH symbol of theMBSFN sub-frame, if the UE finds the DCI indication information, it willfirstly perform CRC validation for the DCI information. After the CRCvalidation, the UE may obtain the corresponding RNTI value to furtherjudge whether it is needed to decode the MCCH control signaling message.If it is needed to decode and demodulate the MCCH control signalingmessage, then the UE accordingly performs the subsequent operation suchas decoding or demodulation, etc, according to the modulation and codingmode of the MCCH message included in the PDCCH symbol.

Those skilled in the art may understand that there is no clear order forthe step S10 and S11 in the embodiment and the order given hereinbeforeis only an implementation. The base station may also generate theMCCH-related indication information firstly and then generates two TBsmultiplexed in a MBSFN sub-frame according to the MCCH control signalingand the MTCH service data.

In order to simplify the aforesaid indication mechanism defined in thePDCCH symbol and guarantee synchronization of the resources allocatedfor the MCCH control signaling, the following regulation may be defined:

-   -   before allocating resource for the MTCH service data, firstly        allocating resource for the MCCH control signaling, and starting        to allocating resource for the MCCH control signaling at the        start of the PMCH RB;    -   considering that at most only one MCCH transmission block and        one MTCH transmission block can be transmitted in a MBSFN        sub-frame, and once the resource allocated for the MCCH control        signaling is determined, the rest resources are all used for the        resource allocation of the MTCH service data, therefore, only        resource allocation information of the MCCH control signaling        needs to be indicated and the resource allocation information of        the MTCH service data does not need to be indicated in PDCCH.

If there is no MCCH control signaling transmission in current MBSFNsub-frame, the resource will not be allocated for MCCH and DCI of MCCHdoes not appear in PDCCH symbol as well.

The advantages of the first detailed embodiment are:

-   -   providing more effective and flexible transmission mode for the        MCCH control signaling and the MTCH service data;    -   inheriting the service scheduling indication unicast in PDCCH,        and thus keeping the consistent design with unicast.

However, for the implementation of the first detailed embodiment, DCIfor indicating MCCH resource allocation as well as modulation and codingmode needs to he defined.

A Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a second embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a methodaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the method flow of the second detailed embodiment isdescribed as follows in combination with FIG. 4 and referring to FIG. 3.As shown in FIG. 4, in the step S10′, a base station generates a firstTB according to a MCCH control signaling, and generates a second TBaccording to MTCH service data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, MCCHcontrol signaling and MTCH service data are multiplexed in a samesub-frame in the form of two TBs. Wherein it is specified that theresource allocated for the MCCH control signaling is fixed and isreserved in a predetermined position and has a determined size, whichmay be regularly reserved at the first symbol behind the two PDCCHsymbols, for example. The remaining 9 RBs in the MBSFN sub-frame may beall used for the transmission of the MTCH service data.

Those skilled in the arts should understand that the two rectangles ofthe first TB and the second TB shown in FIG. 3 are only example, thefirst TB may be mapped on one or more RBs which may be discrete; thesecond TB may be mapped on one or more RBs which may be discrete.Therefore, actually, the patterns mapped in the MBSFN sub-frame by RBsmay be irregular.

Then, in the step S12′, the base station transmits the two TBs to thephysical layer via the transmission channel MCH, and sends them to oneor more UEs dominated by the base station.

Noticeably, the MCCH control signaling is sent to the UE only in theMBSFN sub-frame nearest to the start of MP and RP.

Then, in the step S13′, the UE firstly receives from the base stationthe MBSFN sub-frame including MCCH control signaling in the periodscheduled by MP and RP.

Then, in the step S14′, the UE accordingly performs the subsequentoperation such as decoding or demodulation, etc, according to forexample the modulation and coding mode of the MCCH message obtained fromthe system message.

In a variation of the second embodiment, the method may further comprisethe step S11′ prior to the step S12′. In the step S11′, the base stationadds indication information for indicating the modulation and codingmode of the MCCH TB in two PDCCH symbols.

The advantages of the second detailed embodiment are:

-   -   extra information for indicating MCCH resource allocation and        modulation and coding mode is not needed;    -   the exiting MBSFN sub-frame structure of PMCH is not changed.

However, the second detailed embodiment allocates resource for MCCH byregular reservation, and doesn't consider the different MCCH data sizein practice. Therefore, comparing with the resource utilization rate ofthe first detailed embodiment, the resource utilization rate of thesecond detailed embodiment is relative low.

A Third Embodiment

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a third embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a methodaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the method flow of the third detailed embodiment isdescribed as follows in combination with FIG. 6 and referring to FIG. 5.As shown in FIG. 6, in the step S10″, a base station exclusivelyencapsulates the MCCH control signaling as a MBSFN sub-frame. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 5, the TB of the MCCH control signaling occupies aMBSFN sub-frame, and the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH servicedata don't perform multiplexing, which means that the MCCH controlsignaling and the MTCH service data can not be transmitted in a MBSFNsub-frame simultaneously. Since the MCCH control signaling occupies thewhole MBSFN sub-frame, and generally, resource allocation starts fromthe foremost resource from the start of the PDCCH symbol and the MCCHcontrol signaling is sent to the UE only in the MBSFN sub-frame nearestto the start of MP and RP, therefore, in the third embodiment,indication information for indicating MCCH resource allocation is notneeded as well.

Then, in the step S12″, the base station transmits the TB to thephysical layer via the transmission channel MCH, and sends it to one ormore UEs dominated by the base station.

Noticeably, the MCCH control signaling is sent to one or more UEs onlyin the MBSFN sub-frame nearest to the start of MP and RP.

Then, in the step S13″, the UE firstly receives from the base stationthe MBSFN sub-frame including MCCH control signaling in the periodscheduled by MP and RP.

Then, in the step S14″, the UE accordingly performs the subsequentoperation such as decoding or demodulation, etc, according to forexample the modulation and coding mode of the MCCH message obtained fromthe system message.

Those skilled in the arts should understand that the rectangle of the TBshown in FIG. 5 is only example, and the TB may be mapped on one or moreRBs which may be discrete. Therefore, actually, the patterns mapped inthe MBSFN sub-frame by RBs may be irregular.

In a variation of the third embodiment, the method may further comprisethe step S11″ prior to the step S12″. In the step S11″, the base stationadds indication information for indicating the modulation and codingmode of the MCCH TB in two PDCCH symbols.

The advantage of the third detailed embodiment is:

-   -   extra information for indicating MCCH resource allocation and        modulation and coding mode is not needed.

However, usually the data amount of the MCCH control signaling is less,so it is quite wasteful that the transmission of the MCCH controlsignaling occupies the whole sub-frame in the third embodiment.

A Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of MBSFN sub-frame structure fortransmitting a MCCH control signaling, according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a methodaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the method flow of the fourth detailed embodiment isdescribed as follows in combination with FIG. 8 and referring to FIG. 7.As shown in FIG. 8, in the step S10′″, the MCCH control signaling andthe MTCH service data are multiplexed in the third TB in the same MBSFNsub-frame. Those skilled in the art may understand that a TB correspondsto a PDU (Protocol Control Unit) of a MAC (Medium Access Control), thatis, MAC-PDU. As shown in FIG. 9, in a MAC-PDU, since the MCCH and MTCHare different logic channels, the MCCH control signaling and the MTCHservice data are respectively encapsulated in different SDUs (ServiceData Unit). Different SDUs have different logic channel numbers andlengths. And there are length information and the corresponding logicchannel number for each SDU in the MAC header. Therefore, in the fourthembodiment, indication information for indicating MCCH resourceallocation is not needed as well, and the MCCH may be found by directlyusing the logic channel number in the MAC header.

Those skilled in the art may understand that a MAC-PDU corresponds to amodulation and coding mode. In the fourth embodiment, encapsulating theMCCH control signaling and the MTCH service data in the same MAC-PDUmeans that both use the same modulation and coding mode. However,generally, since the QoSs (Quality of Service) of the MCCH controlsignaling and the MTCH service data are different, usually the controlsignaling and the service data should be separated from each other. Inthe fourth embodiment, the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH servicedata are multiplexed in the same TB. Since the MCCH control signaling ismore important than the MTCH service data, preferably, the QoS of theMCCH control signaling should be satisfied. That is, the modulation andcoding multiplexing the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH service datashould be subject to satisfying the MCCH control signaling, for example,when the QoS of the MCCH control signaling is higher than the QoS of theMTCH service data, the corresponding modulation and coding mode isselected according to the QoS of the MCCH control signaling to satisfythe demand for the QoS of the MCCH control signaling. Certainly, whenthe QoS of the MCCH control signaling is lower than the QoS of the MTCHservice data, the corresponding modulation and coding mode may also beselected according to the QoS of the MCCH control signaling.

Then, in the step S12′″, the base station transmits the third TB to thephysical layer via the transmission channel MCH, and sends it to one ormore UEs dominated by the base station.

Noticeably, the MCCH control signaling is sent to the UE only in theMBSFN sub-frame nearest to the start of MP and RP.

Then, in the step S13′″, the UE firstly receives from the base stationthe MBSFN sub-frame including MCCH control signaling in the periodscheduled by MP and RP.

Then, in the step S14′″, the UE decapsulates the MAC-PDU, and finds outthe MAC-SDU corresponding to the MCCH control signaling according to thelength identifier of SDU and the corresponding logic number of SDU inthe MAC header of the MAC-SDU, and performs the subsequent operationsuch as decapsulating, etc. for the MAC-SDU in which the MCCH controlsignaling is encapsulated.

The advantage of the fourth detailed embodiment is:

-   -   extra information for indicating MCCH resource allocation and        modulation and coding mode is not needed.

However, multiplexing the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH servicedata in the same TB should use the same modulation and coding mode, butQoSs of the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH service data may bedifferent.

The aforesaid embodiments are all described for the scenario of mappingthe MCCH and MTCH on the MCH. In a varied embodiment, the MCCH may bemapped on the DL-SCH (DownLink-Shared Channel), which will be brieflydescribed by taking the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment asexample, hereinafter.

For example, in the variation of the st embodiment, still referring toFIG. 1, the TB of the MCCH control signaling in the MBSFN sub-frame maybe mapped on the DL-SCH, and the TB of the MTCH service data is mappedon the MCH, therefore, the MBSFN transmission may be performed for MBMSservice data.

Based on the plurality of aforesaid described transmission solutions ofthe MCCH control signaling, the technical solution of how to combine thenotification identifier and the MCCH control signaling transmission inthe present invention will be described hereinafter.

In the technical solution of how to combine the notification identifierand the MCCH control signaling transmission, involved in the presentinvention, the notification identifier is only included in the TBtransmitted in the MP/RP period, that is, the notification identifierand the MCCH control signaling are transmitted in a TB, and thenotification identifier is not included in those TBs in which only theMTCH service data is transmitted.

To be specific, a notification indicator is included in a TB which thebase station sends in a MBSFN sub-frame in the MP/RP (Modulationperiod/Repetition period), and the notification indicator is used forinforming whether a new service starts. Once the base station preparesto send a new service, it will activate the notification indicator inthe RB to be sent at specific time, for example, the notificationindicator is set to be 0 for the default; the base station will set thenotification indicator to be 1 if a new service starts to be sent. Thoseskilled in the art should understand that the process of activating thenotification indicator does not limited to the aforesaid setting thenotification indicator to be 1 from 0, for example, it may also besetting the notification indicator to be 0 from 1, that is, thenotification indicator is set to be 1 for the default; the base stationwill set the notification indicator to be 0 if a new service starts tobe sent.

Preferably, as above described, the notification indicator is denotedwith 1 bit, which may save the system resource effectively. However,those skilled in the art should understand that the size of thenotification indicator is not limited to 1 bit.

As above mentioned, once the base station prepares to send a newservice, it will actuate the notification indicator in the RB to be sentat specific time, which means that the base station will wait till theDRX period starts and actuate the notification indicator in the RB to besent at the start of the DRX period once it prepares to send a newservice. Therefore, the actuated notification indicator will appear inthe TB sent in the DRX period. So for a UE in IDLE state, it needs onlyto receive TBs from the base station taking the DRX period as thereceiving period, so as to judge whether the notification indicator inthis TB is actuated.

It should be noted, as above mentioned, that the base station takes theDRX period as the period for actuating the notification indicator andthe UE in IDLE state receives TBs from the base station in the DRXperiod to judge whether the notification indicator in this TB isactuated, is only an example, those skilled in the art should understandthat the aforesaid period may be any one predefined period as long asthe predefined period is multiples of MP and is known by all the UEs.

It should be also noted, as above mentioned, a TB which the base stationsends in a MBSFN sub-frame in MP/RB may simultaneously include the MCCHTB and the MTCH TB, or only include the MCCH TB, or include a TBmultiplexing the control signaling and service data. For the details therelated description can be referred.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 10, a method of receiving MBMS by a UEwill be described in detail according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

It should be noted that the UE, involved in FIG. 10, is the UE in IDLEstate in a cell, that is, the UE customizes one/some services, but theservice does not start.

Firstly, in the step S20, the UE receives a TB from the base station inthe DRX period.

To be specific, the TB is sent in a MBSFN sub-frame. Generally, thefirst two OFDM symbols of the sub-frame are OFDM symbols for PDCCH(Physical Downlink Control Channel), the remaining OFDM symbols are usedfor the transmission of the control signaling and the service data,certainly may also be only used for the transmission of the controlsignaling.

Secondly, in the step S21, the UE judges whether the notificationindicator in the TB is actuated.

Preferably, the notification indicator is in the first two PDCCH symbolsof the MBSFN sub-frame. Those skilled in the art should understand thatthe notification indicator may occupy any idle resource in the two PDCCHsymbols. After the UE finishes receiving the TBs from the base station,it only needs to obtain the notification indicator from the first twoPDCCH symbols, and then judges whether the notification indicator isactuated.

If the notification indicator is not actuated, the UE waits for the nextDRX period to receive a TB from the base station.

If the notification indicator is actuated, then the method goes into thestep S22, the UE judges whether a service identification of a multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the UE is included in a TBincluding a control signaling in the TB.

To be specific, the TB may simultaneously include the MCCH TB and theMTCH TB, or only include the MCCH TB, or include a TB multiplexing thecontrol signaling and service data. For the details the relateddescription can be referred.

Because the base station will add the service identification of the newservice in the modified services information in the TB comprising thecontrol signaling before starting to transmitting the new service, ifthe UE judges that the notification indicator in the TB is actuated,then the UE may judges whether the new service to be transmitted by thebase station is the customized service according to the contents of themodified services information in the TB comprising the controlsignaling.

To be specific, the UE firstly demodulates and decodes the TB includingthe control signaling according to modulation and coding information ofthe TB including the control signaling.

Then, the UE obtains modified services information from the decoded anddemodulated TB including the control signaling.

Finally, the UE judges whether the service identification of themultimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE is includedin the modified services information.

If the service identification of the multimedia broadcast/multicastservice customized by the UE is not included in the modified servicesinformation, the UE waits for the next DRX period to receive a TB fromthe base station.

If the service identification of the multimedia broadcast/multicastservice customized by the UE is included in the modified servicesinformation, then, the method goes into the step S23, the UE receivesthe MBMS.

Furthermore, the UE firstly determines the time-frequency resourceoccupied during the transmission of the MBMS; then, the UE receives theMBMS on the determined time-frequency resource.

For the above described scenario that the MCCH control signaling and theMTCH service data are multiplexed in two TBs of a MBSFN sub-frame andthe resource for MCCH TB is dynamically scheduled, preferably thenotification indicator may be included in the downlink controlinformation, wherein the downlink control information is in the firsttwo PDCCH symbols of the MBSFN sub-frame.

To be specific, the DCI (Downlink Control Information) comprisesposition information of the TB including the control signaling in the TBwhich the UE receives from the base station, the modulation and codinginformation of the TB including the control signaling, and thenotification indicator. Wherein, position information of the TBincluding the control signaling is used for indicating the RB occupiedby the TB including the control signaling, and the UE may find out theTB including the control signaling from the received TB according to theposition information. The modulation and coding information of the TBincluding the control signaling is used for indicating the modulationand coding mode used by the TB including the control signaling, and theUE may demodulate and decode the TB including the control signalingaccording to the modulation and coding mode.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 11, a method of receiving MBMS by a UE bedescribed in detail according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

It should be noted that the UE, involved in FIG. 11, is the UE in IDLEstate in a cell, that is, the UE customizes one/some services, but theservice does not start.

Firstly, in the step S30, the UE receives a TB from the base station inthe DRX period

Secondly, in the step S31, the UE obtains the DCI from the TB.

Next, in the step S32, the UE judges whether the notification indicatorin the DCI is activated.

If the notification indicator is not activated, the UE waits for thenext DRX period to receive a TB from the base station.

If the notification indicator is activated, the method goes into thestep S33, the UE obtains the position information and the modulation andcoding information of the TB including the control signaling from theDCI.

Then, in the step S34, the UE searches the TB including the controlsignaling in the received TB, according to the obtained positioninformation.

Then, in the step S35, the UE decodes and demodulates the searched TBincluding the control signaling, according to the obtained modulationand coding information.

Next, in the step S36, the UE obtains modified services information fromthe decoded and demodulated TB including the control signaling.

Then, in the step S36, the UE judges whether the service identificationof the multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE isincluded in the modified services information.

If the service identification of the multimedia broadcast/multicastservice customized by the UE is not included in the modified servicesinformation, the UE waits for the next DRX period to receive a TB fromthe base station.

If the service identification of the multimedia broadcast/multicastservice customized by the UE is included in the modified servicesinformation, the method goes into the step S38, the UE receives the MBMSon the corresponding time-frequency resource.

The method flows involved in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are for the UE in IDLEstate in a cell. If a UE just goes into the cell or power on, the UEwill firstly receives the MCCH control signaling at the nearest RP, thenjudges whether the customized service has started, according to modifiedservices information and unmodified services information in the controlsignaling. If the customized service starts, the UE receives the servicedata on the corresponding time-frequency resource; if the customizedservice does not start, the UE may take DRX as the receiving period tojudge whether the customized service will start to be transmittedreferring to the method flows shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Once a UE starts to receive MBMS, the UE should take MP as the receivingperiod to receive the MCCH control signaling from the base station tojudge whether the MCCH control signaling is updated, and the UE may knowwhether a new service starts by judging whether the MCCH controlsignaling is updated.

Some embodiments of the present invention is described from the aspectof method, it may be understood that the present invention may beimplemented from the aspect of device as well. A control deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may comprises thefollowing means of:

a first receiving means, for receiving a TB from a base station in apredefined period.

Preferably, the predefined period is a DRX period.

To be specific, the TB is sent in a MBSFN sub-frame. Generally, thefirst two OFDM symbols of the sub-frame are OFDM symbols for PDCCH, theremaining OFDM symbols are used for the transmission of the controlsignaling and the service data, certainly may also be only used for thetransmission of the control signaling.

A first judging means, for judging whether a notification indicator inthe TB is activated.

Preferably, the notification indicator is in the first two PDCCH symbolsof the MBSFN sub-frame. Those skilled in the art should understand thatthe notification indicator may occupy any idle resource in the two PDCCHsymbols. After the UE finishes receiving the TBs from the base station,it only needs to obtain the notification indicator from the first twoPDCCH symbols, and then judges whether the notification indicator isactuated.

A second judging means, for judging whether a service identification ofa multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE isincluded in a TB including a control signaling in the TB, if thenotification indicator is activated.

To be specific, the TB may simultaneously include the MCCH TB and theMTCH TB, or only include the MCCH TB, or include a TB multiplexing thecontrol signaling and service data. For the details the relateddescription can be referred.

A second receiving means, for receiving the multimediabroadcast/multicast service, if the service identification of themultimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE is includedin the TB including the control signaling.

Preferably, the second receiving means is also used for receiving theMBMS on the determined time-frequency resource.

Because the base station will add the service identification of the newservice in the modified services information in the TB comprising thecontrol signaling before starting to transmitting the new service, ifthe UE judges that the notification indicator in the TB is actuated,then the UE may judges whether the new service to be transmitted by thebase station is the customized service according to the contents of themodified services information in the TB comprising the controlsignaling.

To be specific, the second judging means comprises:

a first demodulating and decoding means, for decoding and demodulatingthe TB including the control signaling, according to obtained modulationand coding information;

a first obtaining means, for obtaining modified services informationfrom the decoded and demodulated TB including the control signaling;

a third judging means, for judging whether the service identification ofthe multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE isincluded in the modified services information.

For the scenario that the MCCH control signaling and the MTCH servicedata are multiplexed in two TBs of a MBSFN sub-frame and the resourcefor MCCH TB is dynamically scheduled, preferably the notificationindicator may be included in the downlink control information, whereinthe downlink control information is in the first two PDCCH symbols ofthe MBSFN sub-frame.

To be specific, the DCI (Downlink Control Information) comprisesposition information of the TB including the control signaling in the TBwhich the UE receives from the base station, the modulation and codinginformation of the TB including the control signaling, and thenotification indicator. Wherein, position information of the TBincluding the control signaling is used for indicating the RB occupiedby the TB including the control signaling, and the UE may find out theTB including the control signaling from the received TB according to theposition information. The modulation and coding information of the TBincluding the control signaling is used for indicating the modulationand coding mode used by the TB including the control signaling, and theUE may demodulate and decode the TB including the control signalingaccording to the modulation and coding mode.

Based on this, the first judging means further comprises:

a second obtaining means, for obtaining the DCI from the TB;

a fourth judging means, for judging whether the notification indicatorin the DCI is activated.

The second judging means further comprises:

a third obtaining means, for obtaining the position information and themodulation and coding information of the TB including the controlsignaling from the DCI;

a searching means, for searching the TB including the control signalingin the TB, according to the position information;

a second demodulating and decoding means, for decoding and demodulatingthe searched TB including the control signaling, according to themodulation and coding information;

a fourth obtaining means, for obtaining modified services informationthe decoded and demodulated TB including the control signaling;

a fifth judging means, for judging whether the service identification ofthe multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the UE isincluded in the modified services information.

An assisting control device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise the following means of:

an activating means, for activating a notification indicator in a TBthat is sent at starting time of a predefined period, before starting totransmit a new multimedia broadcast/multicast service;

a sending means, for sending the TB.

Wherein the activating means is further used for updating a TB includinga control signaling in the TB, according to the new multimediabroadcast/multicast service.

Wherein the TB is transmitted in a MBSFN sub-frame, and the controlsignaling is a MCCH signaling.

Preferably, the predefined period is a DRX period.

Although the present invention is clarified and described in detail indrawings and the aforesaid description, it should be thought that theclarification and description are illustrative and exemplary, but notlimited; the present invention is not limited to the aforesaidembodiments.

Those ordinary skilled in the art could understand and realizemodifications to the disclosed embodiments, through studying thedescription, drawings and appended claims. The word “comprising” doesnot exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim orin the description. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does notexclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the practice ofpresent invention, several technical features in the claim can beembodied by one component. In the claims, any reference signs placedbetween parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

1. A method of receiving a multimedia broadcast/multicast service in auser equipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFNtransmission, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: a.receiving a transport block from a base station in a predefined period;b. judging whether a notification indicator in the transport block isactivated; c. judging whether a service identification of a multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is includedin a transport block including a control signaling in the transportblock, if the notification indicator is activated; d. receiving themultimedia broadcast/multicast service, if the service identification ofthe multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the userequipment is included in the transport block including the controlsignaling.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step ofjudging whether a service identification of a multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is includedin a transport block including a control signaling in the transportblock comprises the following steps of: I. decoding and demodulating thetransport block including the control signaling, according to obtainedmodulation and coding information; II. obtaining modified servicesinformation from the decoded and demodulated transport block includingthe control signaling; III. judging whether the service identificationof the multimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the userequipment is included in the modified services information.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the step d further comprises thestep of: receiving the multimedia broadcast/multicast service on adetermined time-frequency resource.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the transport block comprises downlink control information, andthe downlink control information comprises position information of thetransport block including the control signaling, the modulation andcoding information of the transport block including the controlsignaling, and the notification indicator.
 5. The method according claim4, wherein the step b further comprises the following steps of: b1.obtaining the downlink control information from the transport block; b2.judging whether the notification indicator in the downlink controlinformation is activated.
 6. The method according to claim 4, whereinthe step of judging whether a service identification of a multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is includedin a transport block including a control signaling in the transportblock comprises the following steps of: i. obtaining the positioninformation and the modulation and coding information of the transportblock including the control signaling from the downlink controlinformation; ii. searching the transport block including the controlsignaling in the transport block, according to the position information;iii. decoding and demodulating the searched transport block includingthe control signaling, according to the modulation and codinginformation; iv. obtaining modified services information from thedecoded and demodulated transport block including the control signaling;v. judging whether the service identification of the multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is includedin the modified services information.
 7. The method according to claim4, wherein the transport block comprises the downlink controlinformation, the transport block including the control signaling and atransport block including service data.
 8. The method according to claim1, wherein the transport block is transmitted in a MBSFN sub-frame, andthe control signaling is a MCCH signaling.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the predefined period is a DRX period.
 10. A method ofassisting a user equipment to receive a multimedia broadcast/multicastservice in a base station of a wireless communication system based onMBSFN transmission, wherein the method comprises the following steps of:A. activating a notification indicator in a transport block that is sentat starting time of a predefined period, before starting to transmit anew multimedia broadcast/multicast service; B. sending the transportblock.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step A furthercomprises the step of: updating a transport block including a controlsignaling in the transport block, according to the new multimediabroadcast/multicast service.
 12. The method according to claim 10,wherein the transport block is transmitted in a MBSFN sub-frame, and thecontrol signaling is a MCCH signaling.
 13. The method according to claim10, wherein the predefined period is a DRX period.
 14. A control devicefor controlling to receive a multimedia broadcast/multicast service in auser equipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFNtransmission, wherein the control device comprises: a first receivingmeans, for receiving a transport block from a base station in apredefined period; a first judging means, for judging whether anotification indicator in the transport block is activated; a secondjudging means, for judging whether a service identification of amultimedia broadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipmentis included in a transport block including a control signaling in thetransport block, if the notification indicator is activated; a secondreceiving means, for receiving the multimedia broadcast/multicastservice, if the service identification of the multimediabroadcast/multicast service customized by the user equipment is includedin the transport block including the control signaling. 15.-22.(canceled)
 23. An assisting control device for assisting a userequipment to control to receive a multimedia broadcast/multicast servicein a base station of a wireless communication system based on MBSFNtransmission, wherein the assisting control device comprises: anactivating means, for activating a notification indicator in a transportblock that is sent at starting time of a predefined period, beforestarting to transmit a new multimedia broadcast/multicast service; asending means, for sending the transport block. 24.-26. (canceled)